MAJORITY of Filipinos believe that China held back some information about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and should be held accountable for its actions, a July 3 to 6 mobile survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.
The survey, sponsored by Stratbase Albert Del Rosario (ADR) Institute on Filipino public opinion about China, involved 1,555 adult respondents and had a margin of error of ±2 percent. The result was released on the fourth anniversary of the arbitration ruling on the South China Sea issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in favor of the Philippines.
SWS found that 61 percent of Pinoys believe that China did not immediately share information on COVID-19 to the world, along with the severity of the disease and the number of coronavirus-related deaths in China. This belief was strong believed by 28 percent while 33 percent somewhat believed the idea.
The results also showed that 23 percent do not believe the idea — comprised of 13 percent who somewhat not believe and 10 percent who strongly not believe that China withheld information – while 15 percent were undecided if they believe it to not.
This yielded a net belief score (percent of belief minus percent of not believe) of +38 which SWS classified as “very strong.” The SWS classifies a net belief score and net agreement scores of +50 and above as “extremely strong;” +30 to +49 as “very strong;” +10 to +29 as “moderately strong;” +9 to —9 as “neutral;” —10 to —29 as “moderately weak;” —30 to —49 as “very weak;” and —50 and below as “extremely weak.”
The net belief score was “very strong” across all geographical locations in the country and highest in the Visayas (+43), followed by Metro Manila (+41), Mindanao (+38), and Balance Luzon at (+35).
The SWS also found that 77 percent of the respondents agreed with the idea that China should be “held accountable for not immediately sharing their information on COVID-19 to the world,” with 50 percent strongly agreeing and 26 percent somewhat agreeing.
The poll results also showed that 15 percent disagree that China should be held accountable, composed of 8 percent that disagree and 7 percent that strongly disagree, and 7 percent were undecided if they agree or disagree that China should be held accountable.
This resulted in a net agreement score of +62 which had been classified by SWS as “extremely strong.”
“The net agreement that China should be held accountable was “extremely strong” across all geographical locations in the country and highest in Luzon (+66), followed by the Visayas (+65), Metro Manila (+64), and Mindanao (+50).
The first case of Covid-19 was reported in late 2019 in Wuhan in China.
Meanwhile, a large majority of Filipinos believe that having faith in God is very much important if the country is to defeat the pandemic.
Based on the latest Veritas Truth Survey (VTS), almost 9 in every 10 Filipinos, or 89 percent, believe that faith is “very important” in the fight against COVID-19.
Relatively, the June 20 to July 10 survey showed that only 9 percent believe that faith is “important,” while 2 percent said that it is “somewhat important.”
VTS Head Bro. Clifford Sorita said the results of the survey prove how much Filipinos value their faith even amid the pandemic.
“To fight an ‘invisible enemy’ brings a lot of anxiety and fear. Leaving the safety of our homes will definitely take a lot of courage for most of us. In so doing, we will muster all the strength needed through the gift of faith,” said Sorita. — Gerard Naval
